By Garance Franke-Ruta
The Republican National Committee has sent some Virginia voters a questionnaire suggesting that the president and Congressional Democrats want to expand welfare benefits with "no time, education or work requirements" and reinstitute the military draft -- while raising the budget deficit well beyond what is projected by nonpartisan experts.

The fundraising survey, received this week by a Post reporter who lives in Northern Virginia, is called the "2009 Obama Agenda Survey" and comes as less than a month remains in the hard-fought gubernatorial race between Democrat Creigh Deeds and Republican Robert McDonnell for control of the swing-state.

The survey, touching on an array of divisive topics, is accompanied by a letter from GOP chairman Michael S. Steele describing the items in the survey questions as "Obama's top priorities" and declaring, "I want you to know that the Republican Party is not dead."

Some of the 15 questions:

1. Do you agree with Barack Obama's budget plan that will lead to a $23.1 trillion deficit over the next ten years?

3. Do you support amnesty for illegal immigrants?

4. Should English be the official language of the United States?

6. Are you in favor of expanded welfare benefits and unlimited eligibility (no time, education or work requirements) that Democrats are pushing to pass?

9. Do you support the creation of a national health insurance plan that would be administered by bureaucrats in Washington?

13. Are you in favor of reinstituting the military draft, as Democrats in Congress have proposed?"

Surveys designed to persuade rather than survey are a common though dirty tactic in the political arena, the text equivalent of telephone push-polls. The sending of polls for fundraising purposes is also widely considered unethical, a practice known as "frugging" -- fundraising under the guise of research. In August, the RNC suggested in a similarly formatted "Future of American Health Care Survey" that "GOP voters might be discriminated against for medical treatment in a Democrat-imposed health care rationing system." Following on outcry from Democrats, a Republican Party spokesperson called that survey "inartfully worded."

The reference in the Virginia survey to a "$23.1 trillion deficit over the next ten years" appears to confuse the deficit with the national debt and consequently massively overstates projected deficits over the next decade.

According to recent White House figures, the budget deficit in 2019 is projected to be $917 billion, not $23.1 trillion. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projects the accumulated national debt from a decade of deficits approaching or exceeding $1 trillion each year under Obama spending plans could soar to nearly $23 trillion by 2019 from the $11.8 trillion public debt reported for August 2009.

Other charges in the survey are also overstated. Obama has made no moves as president in support of reinstituting the draft. Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) has several times introduced a measure to bring it back, but his bill has little support among Democrats. And while the president has said that while he would prefer that a public option be offered as part of a health-care reform package, that provision did not emerge from the months of Senate Finance Committee negotiations that concluded Friday morning and Obama has said he does not view it as an essential component of reform.

"This isn't the first time that Republicans have used push polls in recent weeks to malign what the president is offering," said Democratic National Committee spokesman Hari Sevugan. "Dirty tricks and lies is what they are resorting to in lieu of any new ideas or plans to lower the cost of health insurance."

A GOP spokesperson declined to discus the poll. "Our policy is not to comment on fundraising," said Gail Gitcho.

The first lesson of freedom and justice is to be your own person. This means not depending on the government for your needs and desires. As we see the government increasingly dictating every function of living, what to eat, drink, how to think, (political correctness), the people being given drugs for every and any reason. Children being indoctrinated into every sexual practice known to mankind, parents being denied their parental rights and responsibilities. Abortion, Partial birth abortion, sperm, babies being handed out like candy. The morality of the We the people has been dummed down and down into the bowels of H@ll. The government's never ending interference into the personal lives and minds of the people. Constant loss of rights of the people, more taxes and laws imposed, many done in secret. Liberals excusing rapists, murderers and criminals. There is a deviancy sweeping the nation, I believe it is on the side of the Liberals, as usual they mistake it for freedom. Freedom is not free, True freedom cannot be given, it must come from decency and respect of life, this does not seem to be clear to Liberals.

Over the past decades I have gradually become aware of the fact that republicans are basically evil, selfish people who believe in Darwin's law of the survival of the fittest more than their evangelists' ten commandments. They vote against their own self interest and with the agenda of the super rich because they mistakenly believe that if they act and believe as the rich do then they too will become like their false "gods". Because of 35 years of progressively greater tax breaks for the wealthy, the 10% at the top now have 80% of all assets in the country. What the republicans don't realize is that this layer is practically inaccessible for them and it is rapidly becoming more so largely because of THEIR OWN EFFORTS.
If taxes are not raised on the rich and this wealth disparity reduced then what little democracy is left in America will be buried in third world poverty.

Yes, because this approach is working so well in California, huh moron? In fact, C-SPAN did a segment this morning that explored the possibility of California becoming the first failed state in the US. Many callers had recently moved from CA because of the high taxes and business are leaving in droves as well for the same reason. Idiots like you just don't realize that after a certain point, THESE PEOPLE WILL JUST MOVE. They can live anywhere they choose you idiot.

* Back to the dark ages for women.
* Men will dominate the workforce.
* Women will have absolutely NO choices in their lives what-so-ever.
* Women will not only have to raise the children single handedly from the population explosion, but will have to work part-time for money to feed the kids. This is in addition to doing all of the housework, laundry, grocery shopping, PTA meetings, etc.
* Women will not have a choice regarding parenthood because the neo-cons want to populate the country for political dominance like the Nazi's did with their selected race!
* Women will be controlled like the Taliban controls their women.
* Women will lose any and all gains they have made towards equality if McDonnell is elected.

Posted by: merf-1 | October 4, 2009 5:03 PM

Thanks merf-1, you've just balanced the equation by proving that in fact both parties are supported by moronic lemmings, not just one.

* Back to the dark ages for women.
* Men will dominate the workforce.
* Women will have absolutely NO choices in their lives what-so-ever.
* Women will not only have to raise the children single handedly from the population explosion, but will have to work part-time for money to feed the kids. This is in addition to doing all of the housework, laundry, grocery shopping, PTA meetings, etc.
* Women will not have a choice regarding parenthood because the neo-cons want to populate the country for political dominance like the Nazi's did with their selected race!
* Women will be controlled like the Taliban controls their women.
* Women will lose any and all gains they have made towards equality if McDonnell is elected.

Political parties can be used by Politcians, hopefully, to advance the agenda of their constituency. The citizenry at large need not join one. Furthermore many members of our general public are quite fatigued with the continuous bickering. I'm calling on my President to lead Congress toward a new era of growth.

Over the past decades I have gradually become aware of the fact that republicans are basically evil, selfish people who believe in Darwin's law of the survival of the fittest more than their evangelists' ten commandments. They vote against their own self interest and with the agenda of the super rich because they mistakenly believe that if they act and believe as the rich do then they too will become like their false "gods". Because of 35 years of progressively greater tax breaks for the wealthy, the 10% at the top now have 80% of all assets in the country. What the republicans don't realize is that this layer is practically inaccessible for them and it is rapidly becoming more so largely because of THEIR OWN EFFORTS.
If taxes are not raised on the rich and this wealth disparity reduced then what little democracy is left in America will be buried in third world poverty.

dirty is suggesting former pres. clinton is a racist during the SC primary, or that republicans had no stimulus plan, when eric cantor HAND DELIVERED a proposal to OBama that the CBO said would have been more stimulative at half the cost.

how is that stimulus anyway? man, we flew by that 8% unemployment benchmark like faster than obama lost the olympics by having his "im nor proud of america wife" try to be a salesman for the country.

dirty is telling a health care campaign-style rally on sept. 8 that republicans "have no plan" for health care and then, on sept 9., telling a joint session of congress that you approve of several of the ideas that republican have put forward, but rejecting others. WAIT, i thought you said they wanted to do nothing?

One more point about the particular poll that's the focus of this report. I wish the question hadn't been included in this kind of poll, because I believe it to be a valid one, properly couched. That is, "Should English be the official language of the country?"

I'm a university English teacher, and have taught in universities in the U.S. and various locales in Asia, and I do believe all countries need an official language. Which is *not* to outlaw *other* languages, but to require one shared one known by all citizens.

China, for instnace, does this. Practically the second the People's Republic was founded, Mandarin became the official language. It wasn't until the mid-1990's that outlets such as radio and television stations were allowed to broadcast in anything other than Mandarin -- and even then, it was because of a sort of coup d' etat -- a provincial governor stood up to Beijing and ordered his province's stations to started broadcasting partly in the local dialect. Because he was the darling of the day with Beijing through bringing in 40% of the entire country's foreign income through his province alone, Beijing shut-up and sullied -- but kept a wary eye open.

To this day, much of the broadcasting continues to be in Mandarin, including in that province.

If people whose native languages are different and they want to use it among speakers of their language -- fine. Even in public places, if the employees happen to speak their language. But they shouldn't take the "I know my RIGHTS and by god, I expect everyone in America to be able to speak to me in Emishi!" (Emishi are indigenous people on Japan's northern island, ethnically and culturally distinct from Japanese.)

Let's get real here.

Wanna vote, say? Learn how to read English; don't expect a nonspeaker of your language to be happy about his tax dollars going to pay for ballots in hundreds of other languages.

When I got married in Beijing, none of the three judges (foreigners marrying Chinese had to do so in a special court) spoke a word of English, yet I had to respond to certain questions. Did I have the choice of insisting on an interpreter or having the questions in written form in English? Of course not, nor did I expect it; I went through a cram period learning to understand the questions I would me asked and memorizing the answers. In *bad* Mandarin, true, but at least I tried. And the judges, who started off hostile (this was over 20 years ago) quickly switched attitudes when they realized I was truly struggling to follow the program. And the legal requirements.

This kind of survey -- and I don't care *who* uses one -- is beyond merely despicable, and, as such, out to incur a criminal charge being filed against whoever commissions one and against any survey firm that accepts the commission, with additional charges against both if so much as one person is presented the survey. Plus some civil penalties and relief for private citizens (meaning money to them -- hit the b*stards where it hurts).

as for a disturbing number of the comments here, folks, get a life. Neither all Republicans nor all Democrats have horns and forked tails and carry pitchforks. Not even all of either's elected/appointed office-holders.

To call your opponent a "traitor" or accusing him of being "un-American," you instantly demonstrate that there's indeed at least one person in the room who disregards American tradition; that person's initials are "Y.O.U." To agree or disagree with a fellow American, including those holding office, in a free -- and, hopefully, civil -- manner is part of the very foundation of our country. In accusing others of being un-American when they disagree with you is to show your concept of America is a dictatorship -- by your side.

And that applies to hate-mongers across the board, I don't care *what* color your stripes, your skin, or anything else.

I don't much like wannabe dictators -- even those whose views I perhaps otherwise, sometimes, share. But they lose me -- and lose the plot -- when they stoop down below the whale turds in their tactics.

Rep. Wilson? He very well may have some legitimate questions or disagreements or arguments, but his interrupting the President -- note I said "the President," referring to the institution, not the person occupying it at the moment -- and shrieking "You LIE!" took him right of my Christmas-card list, as did Rep. Grayson when he disgraced himself by accusing Republicans of having a health-care plan of "ya'll just hurry up and die."

Both are disgraces to themselves, to their respective parties, to the Congress, and to the nation.

Reminds me of the days when I worked as a cop and security patrolman and sometimes was involved in breaking up gang fights involving teens. "What started the fight?" "He looked at OUR side of the street!"

Yeah, right. That's worth a fight any old day.

Sort of like these political rants from the Looney Left right across to the Rabied Right.

Gess, this is so slanted. I want results not the same old blah blah blah. This is why trust is gone in politcans and newspapaers. Neither really care about US!
Fire all polls, boycott papers and vote Independent from now on!!! You are in charge of Congress- they are elected by YOU! Use your power to change!

i too am an independent,but where i come from no matter your political preference you dont cheer when america loses,like the conservatives i saw on video a short while ago.joe scarborough[sorry if spelled wrong] avery conservative republican was take back by this also.i think this video will be on every dem.commerical from now until forever.you dont cheer when america loses .

jaho wrote: "...But I've surprised the GOP is going to this well a full year before mid-term elections? Wow."

In VA there is a governor's race going on this fall. The republican is a regent university christian soldier who wrote a college thesis about working women being detrimental to the family, among other bronze age concepts, while at Regent University in his mid 30s, though he makes it sound like a high school paper. The democrat is Deeds, who has his own issues but nothing compared to the republican neanderthal. For the RNC to use Atwater/Rove push-poll methods, they must be worried. Good.

Again, you knew they would play the hate, fear and division card eventually, even after it worked SO well for McCain. But I've surprised the GOP is going to this well a full year before mid-term elections? Wow.

As the old lady with the crazy hair told McCain, "She doesn't like Obama. He's an Arab." Sure he is. He is as much an Arab as the old lady with the crazy hair. She, and many just like her, are the target of push polls from the RNC. They believe anything Michael Steele has to say. That's how the RNC functions. They oppose any change the health care in America because any change would reduce gross receipts at health insurance companies. Can't have that. Might reduce executive compensation. So Republican are dishonest. They don't say they oppose health care reform because their good buddies on Wall Street would be hurt. They do say they oppose health care reform because Obama is a Stalinist-Hitlerian who wants to bankrupt the country, pay people not to work, raise taxes on the middle class, and draft people into a massive army. The old lady with the crazy hair is buyin' into it.

When are you people going to realize that these stinking Republicans don't give a dam about you. Their corporate crony's even come before God & country. They won't even give Americans affordable healthcare because they're to busy worrying about Wall Street's profits. Our never ending jacked-up rates gives the insurance companies the growth needed to drive their stock price, which, gives them their million dollar pay-packages, bonuses, and stock-options out the ying-yang. Would anyone care to tell me why we should be stuck paying for some CEO's lavish lifestyle. I'll bet the campaign contributions are FAT working for Wall Street. It's funny how the Tea-Baggers protested against the Wall Street Bankers for that kind of behavior, but when it comes to the Wall Street insurance companies, they're brain-dead. Everything the Republicans tell you is a lie. There's never going to be a Draft. Illegal aliens will have to go back through the system like Obama said. And our deficits will be higher under the Republicans. And if they're not, it'll be because they cut-out everything this country needs to survive to feed their friends. I remember when Clinton tried to pass his Debt Reduction Act. Newt Gingrich led every stinking Republican to vote against it. Some conservatives Ha.

This is a "LEE ATWATER" tactic who was a former RNC head and who mentored both Rove and Bush. On his death bed, ATWATER apologised to all the people who's lives he had ruined and shattered with his corrupted lying tactics and behaviors used to discredit the Democrat's and force defeat via fear and deceit. Today's American's, young and old, are much too smart to fall for such garbage and corruption.

Push polls are very deceitful. Do a google search about a terrible one Karl Rove used for George W. Bush's campaign against John McCain to win the republican South Carolina primary in 2000. They called South Carolina voters and asked something along the lines of; "If you found out John McCain had an illegitimate minority child, would that make you more or less likely to vote for him?" This "illegitimate child" was an adopted daughter.

Democrats have won the last 3 years of elections as a result of Independent Party voters. Now, we see what the Democrats have done and plan to do and, as a result, the Democrats have lost Independent Voters.

I suspect, for the thieving Democrats, that is the real reason that they will push through an amensty for 100 million illegals along with their extended third world low income foreign family members is to garner all the illegal votes to counter the loss of Independents.

That's as dirty as polictics get but Americans will recognize for what it is.
Say adios Reid, Pelosi, Webb, Warner, Dodd etc etc.

The saddest part? That so many people are stupid enough to get sucked in by this drivel. The RNC is effectively following the "..and how often do you beat your wife..." strategy, and some idiots are falling for it. Truly sad.

It is the sign of desperation, thats the only thing the GOP knows, dirty tactics, misinformations and NO. I think they are the master of that. And I think the people knew it already. No worries, next elections i think it will be only Democrat and Indenpendent Party will be left. LOLZ

Shows some desperation. Typical Atwater/Rove tactic. I guess when you can't win with the truth you resort to other methods, in this case the ones that have proven to scare Americans before into voting against their best interests. A Willie Horton ad can't be that far behind.

The irony, the article accuses the RNC of being deceitful, but why not post all 15 questions vice cherry picking 13. The to counter the deficit figure the article agains cherry picks one year, 2019, of the deficit from the partisan White House figures.
Bottomline, this article uses the exact same methods of the very survey it is bashing. It is wrong for the RNC and it is wrong of the Post.

I don't think I've ever contributed to or voted for a Republican, but since I moved to the country I've gotten lots of mail from the RNC, while curiously none from the congressman from my district, a Republican. I usually just fill it out the way I see it and mail it back. Costs the RNC a few bucks, and makes the USPS some money, both of which are good causes.

A young Richard Nixon would have been proud of these Republican propaganda tactics, which he himself used (calling opponents Communists and admitting later he knew they were no such thing), to win office. Nixon said: that fear, not love, motivates people---they don't teach you that in Sunday school. Steele and his party are obviously incredibly desperate and sticking to the usual Nixon playbook.

After the last few months, I just have to wonder how many Republican voters will simply get tired of being lied to and manipulated the way the RNC and its shock-jock talk radio agents have. I mean, sooner or later some desire for self-respect has to creep in, I would think. Or is it really possible that these people do not have that capacity, and want to be led around by a leash this way?

I think the RNC should take their 20% base of wingnuts in this country and go form their own country. That way they'd stop ruining ours. It might be fun to watch them all keep fighting and screaming like nuts when there's no one left that disagrees with them! What would they do to fill their time then? My guess is at least half of them would become even more extreme so they could fight the other half!

Michael Steele is not a joke - he's an insult to all Americans and especially his race. My guess is most Virginians are too smart and fed up with this BS to listen - sure hope I'm right. We don't need someone even more offensive and nuttier than Allen was leading our state.

Vote all Repukes out of office at every level and rid the country of this cancer!

Only Michael Steele would use the Virginia governors race as an excuse to spread outright lies, one after another after another, about the Obama administration.

It's easy to fill up a letter if you just flat make stuff up. And going to the crazy, false comments about "welfare" (Republican code word for race issues) out of some retro 1970s political playbook...I'm just literally shaking my head in disbelief.

What Democrats in Virginia have needed was a true crazypants wingnut who doesn't even pretend to be something else, but sadly the Republicans ditched Jeff Frederick before he could have his true moment in the sun during the current campaign. Now I think Michael Steele has proudly stepped up to the role. If this doesn't activate as many Democratic volunteers and donors in Virginia as Sarah Palin did last year nationwide, I will be amazed.

"It is blatantly apparent that the Republicans are now the only ones telling the truth.
Posted by: Patriot12 | October 3, 2009 10:58 AM
LOL...The GOP abandoned the very idea of "truth" a long time ago.
Posted by: dfc102 | October 3, 2009 11:19 AM"

the dems never told the truth to begin with...
with all they are doing by trying to pass bills without even reading them...
how can you be so ignorant and say that...
is rangel a good example of truth, using his office to stash millions away...
you need your head examined...

alamo2, maybe they mention in the survey that dick cheney took five exemptions to get out of the draft during Nam because he "had other things to do." Maybe the rnc should ask if others would send their kids off to protect America while theirs stay home and party. rnc=really nutjob conservatives.

What is really terrible about this poll is that both sides do this kind of stuff all the time. Lies, misrepresentations, splitting hairs, they all are used to hide the truth about our political system. It reads as such, those with the most money to give to politicians shall have the most access and therefore the best chance at forwarding their agenda.
This is why it was so different to see a President actually try to get something for those without the access. Government run health insurance would help the nation in the same way as the state university system and government loans helped educate a large part of the populus. The selfishness of this country will eventually lead to it's downfall.

3. I don't support amnesty but, given the Democrats have an undefeatable majority, and that both liberal Senators from Virginia, Webb and Warner, support amnesty and the over population of America, vis a vis extended family reunification rights for illegals, and, in view of their absolute refusal to listen to their constituents, what can an American citizen do about stopping amnesty?

The Democrats just issued VISAs for another 1.5 million foreign guest workers to come here to take away jobs from Americans while the unemployment rolls hit 10% nationwide. Are they insame or are they playing politics with new amnestied voters?

Evidently both.

According to the liberals, Independent Party Americans who disagree with their agenda should emigrate. I intend to hang around and fight this insane liberal amensty agenda and impending MEX-AM Union which Jorge Bush tried to push, which the Democrats are now pursuing, deftly following Bush's anti American bankruptcy bent policy.

4. English should be the national language but I'd settle for Americans not having to pay scarce tax dollars for broadcasts and publications for arrogant non English speaking illegal visitors. In this economy, time has come to over turn Bill Clinton's Exec Order 13166 and save hundreds of billions a year.

EO-13166 is not law. It wasn't debated in Congress. It isn't supported by the electorate yet costs us untold billions. It is an anti American illegal act.

But, does it matter when Barrack Obama, pandering to Univisiion, tells Americans to "Teach your children to speak Spanish?"
What does he or his fellow Democrats have against French or Italian or Mandarin or Japanese or ENGLISH?!

Virginians will send a loud message to Democrats in Novemeber 09, 10 and 12. We're fed up with the insane anti AMerican liberal politicians. We won't forget.

I and hundreds of thousands more Independent Virginians will vote against and and all Democrats because we now recognize their treachorous separatist, supremacist agenda.

It is no more unethical than the Post using online polls. And it fact, it may be a better use of the respondent's time.

Close to an election, a political party sends out a card where voters select their most important issues. Then a week before the election, each voter who responded will receive a detailed letter about their top issue, and maybe even a follow-up phone call.

Years from now someone will be running in a disctrict and not know where to begin. Then the RNC will say, "we have thousands of names from 09 who wanted the draft reinstated, or health care stopped, or whatever."

And they've all been solicited for contributions in the last year so the lists are accurate.

In light of this latest lie from the President, today I asked that my Congressional representatives oppose by all means, his agenda of government health care.

This morning I also sent the following message to the White House... Today, I contacted my elected Representatives in Congress and implored them to OPPOSE your health care proposals at all costs. I did this because of your statement that passing such health care would solve the unemployment problem. This claim of yours is nothing but a lie to shift the responsibility from you to someone else, this seems to be a trademark of yours. You promised, before entering office that you would fix the economy and the unemployment problem. You have done neither. Now you want to incur more debt on the tax payers, backed by nothing but your empty promises. I have been out of work since September of last year, I have been diligent in my job search but to no avail. I have sought jobs that are in line with my skills, none seem to be available. When that failed, I looked for jobs that were below and above my skill level. Not surprisingly, no one will hire a person not qualified for the job, nor it seems are they willing to accept the fact that some people are willing to work for less than their skills would indicate. In any case, yesterday I recieved my one hundreth rejection for a job, because for the company "there wasn't a strong enough match" of my skills to their needs. In light of these facts, I will continue to demand opposition to your policies, from my Congressional Representatives until such time as you offer something more substantial than the standard empty promises and rhetoric that seem to be your standard bill of fare. Your latest "Do it or else" statement ammounts to nothing more than outright extortion.

Republicans have lied about everything for years and used fear to create their constituency. They feed those who are controlled by their reptilian brain an endless distortion of facts. How can we ever believe, never mind elect, a Republican to national office again? If they can't operate on a truthful platform, they serve the American people no good. No one can ever trust these manipulative liars again, EVER.

I thought for awhile that the Republicans had dried up and blown away. Now I find that they have dried up they just haven't blown away. These people are going to implode. One day people will maybe the party of hate and maybe not.

Republican Propaganda they are a very scary party trying to control the rights of people through fear..and the sad part is.. they are so brainwashed that they think it is the Democrats. And Michael Steele is being used so bad by the Rebpublican party and he is so brainwashed he does not even realize it.

Looks like the ultra conservatives have taken over the Virginia Republican party. Also, the mention of the draft and tying it to the Democrats shows that the leaders of the Republican party are either cowards afraid to serve their country, or traitors. Republicans are very happy to have someone else's kid serve overseas, but not their own. COWARDS!